Friction-clutch



L t e e h S m. e e h S 3 L L w 0 R C O H w d 0 M 0 W FRICTION CLUTCH.

Patentedlpr. s, 1888.

Inventor.

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' H. C. GROWELL.

FRICTION CLUTCH. No. 380,384; C Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

N. #57285. Phollyliihagflphan wubin wn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Urrrcn.

HILEN C. GROYVELL, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,384, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed August 9, 1887. Serial No. 246,542. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HILEN O. CROWELL, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Erie,

in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention consists in the improvements in friction-clutches hereinafter set forth, and explained in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved friction-clutch. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in elevation, with parts thereof removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of same on the line :0 a: in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa view in elevation of the shifting ring of the clutch detached therefrom. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of same. Fig. 6 is an end View of same in elevation.

Like letters refer to like parts in all thefigures.

In the construction of my improved frictionclutch I make a friction-ring shell, A, with a hub, B, on the inner end thereof, said hub being preferably bored out,so as to fit over and be secured upon the hub C of the pulley D, the pulley D being mounted loosely on the shaft E.

Within the friction-shell A, I construct a frictionring, F, preferably out of compressed paper, which is clamped within the frictionshell A by means of the clamping-rings G and bolts 9. The inner surface of the frictionring F is then turned out, so that it presents a smooth and uniform friction-surface, H.

Upon the shaft E, and within the frictionring F, I secure a huh, I, having thereon preferably four curved arms, J J and J J, the outer ends of the arms J J having secured thereto a rim, K, filling half of the circle inside of the friction-ring F, and the outer ends of the arms J J having also secured thereto a like rim, K, occupying the remainder of the circle inside of the frictionring F, so that the two half-circular rims K and K form a complete circular rim inside of and adj acent to the inside surface, H, of the friction-ring F, so that when the ends L L and L L of the circles K and K are in contact, or nearly so, the periphery of the rims K K will not touch or comeinto contact with the inner surface, H, of the friction-ring F, and vice versa. When the ends L L are spread apart, the circumference of the circular rims K K will be so increased as to bring them into close contact with the inside surface, H, of the friction-ring F.

The arms J J and J J being made thin and wide, and with the curves therein of such shape that when the ends of the rims K K are forced apart, every part of the rims K K will move outward in substantially a direct radial line from the center of the shaft, so that when the rims K K are pressed outwardly against the friction-surface H this action will not tend to throw the pulley out of center, as is ordinarily the case with ring-clutches of this class.

On the inner portions of the ends L and L of the circular rims K and K, I make ears M M, in which ears I secure levers N N by means of pintles a n, the outer ends of which levers N N extend up into recesses in the ends L L of the circular rims K K and come into contact with each other near the peripheries of the circular rims KK,while the inner ends of the levers N N extend to and into grooves 0 between ears 0 on the outside of the hub I, so that when the wedges P are thrust between the inner ends of the levers N N the inner ends of the levers will move apart only.

The shifting ring Q. is provided with a groove, Q, for the shifting lever, and also with projecting cars It on opposite sides thereof, between which ears wedges P are firmly secured. These wedges I operate between the inner ends of the levers N N for the purpose of adjustment. The inner ends of the levers N'N are provided with set-screws S, against which the sides of the wedges I operate, and by means of which any slack or wear can be taken up.

In operating this clutch the shifting ring Q, being moved toward the hub of the clutch, forces the wedges P between the inner ends of the levers N N,which operates to force the ends L L of the circular rims apart and spread them out firmly against the inner surface, H,of the friction-ringll until they are brought into close frictional contact therewith, and by moving the shifting ring Q back the wedges Pare withdrawn, the spring of the curved arms J J and J J operating to draw the rims K K back out of frictional contact with the friction-ring F.

In the construction shown the friction-ring shell A is shown as secured to the hub O of the pulley A. It can, however, be secured to the spokes or to any part of the pulley desired.

I am aware that the idea of forcing out an inner ring open on one side against a surrounding friction-surface is not new. Therefore I do not claim this feature, broadly, my invention relating rather to clutches having the inner ring open at opposite sides and to the operative mechanism and other features of the clutch.

Therefore, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-- 1. The combination, in a friction-clutch, of an annular frictionring with a clutch-ring consisting of two semicircular sections secured to spokes attached to the hub of the clutch, and levers operating at each ofthe ends ofsaid semicircular c1utch-ring section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a friction-clutch, of

a friction-ring of compressed paper, substantially as shown, with a clutch-ring consisting of two semicircular sections secured to spokes attached to the hub of the clutch, and levers mounted in the ends of said sections, and wedges on the shifting ring for operating said levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in afriction-clutch, of a huh, I, having a sectional clutch-ring, K K, mounted on the curved spokes J J and J J, with the levers N N N' N and wedges P P, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a friction clutch ring composed of a hub having thereon spokes J J, and sectional ringsKK, having thereon the ears M M", and the levers N N, with the adjusting-screws S S in said levers, and the sliding wedges P, secured to the shifting ring Q, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

H ILEN O. CROVVELL.

Witnesses:

L. D. HANFORD, H. J. OURTZE. 

